The proposed development is for a new childcare centre on a residential site on Ray Road, near the Epping Town Centre. It includes use of a heritage listed house called Woodslane, and the site sits within the Heritage Conservation Area. 

The Trust has the following concerns about the application:

• It involves a Heritage listed house being converted into a child care centre to accommodate 50 children
• The streetscape will be significantly altered –  the application includes replacing all of the front lawn and garden area with a car park to accommodate 13 car spaces (in order to be compliant)
• This is a poor location for child care centre – there are issues with traffic, sight line and safety issues for drivers and pedestrians/toddlers on a busy congested road,
• The application includes removal of trees/gardens on site
• It also includes the removal of heritage lynch entry gate and picket fence – with the replacement being a 1.8 metre high timber front fence, car park area and 2.4 m high side & back fences (again to be compliant for the new usage)
• There is no deep soil landscaped areas available for planting of replacement trees

This application continues a trend over the last couple of years for older Epping properties being bought up, and conversion sought for childcare centres. By necessity, conversion can include many major changes to the existing property. The Trust agrees that more childcare places will likely be needed in Epping as the population grows, but at present the council is not allowed to properly plan and zone the most appropriate areas for these centres. Under State government legislation, applications for child care centres can be made for most streets irrespective of the surrounding area or need. The Trust supports planning powers for childcare centres passing back to the control of Councils who can then do proper long term planning.